BRAVE HEARTS president Jenny Black says she has been overwhelmed by community support since a rose garden for cancer victims was ruined by vandals this week.
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Ms Black said there had been an outpouring of assistance, including individual and business donations.
She said she was particularly moved by a group of primary school students who yesterday held a pink day to raise money to help rebuild the garden in Belvoir Park.
St Augustine’s Primary School teacher Chris Lamb said about 80 year five and six students took part in the fund-raiser.
He said the students had initially planned to donate the money to the breast cancer foundation but felt compelled to give the money to the Brave Hearts after hearing of the destruction on Thursday.
“With us being so close to Sumsion Gardens we have a real connection to it and we spend a fair bit of time down there so the kids thought it would be a really great cause,” Mr Lamb said.
“They were pretty disappointed, they were touched by it and once we found out it happened we went down there and spoke about the importance of the garden for breast cancer sufferers.
“They really took it personally I suppose, they could see the social justice aspect of it all and what it meant to the community.”
Mr Lamb said the students, who raised about $100, had volunteered their time to help replant the garden.
“I’m really proud of them, Jenny Black called in and she spoke to the five kids that organised it all and she was almost in tears and you could just see the kids were so proud.”
Forty standard roses were snapped or pulled from the ground in the attack, with the vandals using wooden stakes to inflict more damage.
Ms Black said the children’s response had been inspiring and moving.
“Those kids just blew me away, they’re beautiful and it just reiterates that we do have some great kids in our community,” she said.
“We’ve just been absolutely astounded with the response, it just proves how the garden meant so much to so many.”
The group hoped to have the garden rebuilt as soon as possible.
Sen-Constable Leon Higgins, of Wodonga police, said no one had come forward over the incident but they were hopeful of information from the public.
Anyone with information should contact Wodonga police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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